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Skriven 2006-11-08 23:31:48 av Whitehouse Press (1:3634/12.0)
Ärende: Press Release (0611084) for Wed, 2006 Nov 8
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President Bush Nominates Dr. Robert M. Gates to be Secretary of Defense
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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
November 8, 2006

President Bush Nominates Dr. Robert M. Gates to be Secretary of Defense
The Oval Office

President's Remarks view

˙˙˙˙˙ Fact Sheet: Dr. Robert M. Gates: The Right Choice for Secretary of
Defense ˙˙˙˙˙ In Focus: Defense

3:30 P.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon, and welcome to the White House. Earlier
today I announced my intent to nominate Robert Gates to be the next
Secretary of Defense. And now I'm pleased to introduce him to the American
people. I also am looking forward to paying tribute to the man he will
succeed.

America remains a nation at war. We face brutal enemies who despise our
freedom and want to destroy our way of life. These enemies attacked our
country on September the 11th, 2001; they fight us in Afghanistan and Iraq,
and they remain determined to attack our country again. Against such
enemies, there's only one way to protect the American people: We must stay
on the offense and bring our enemies to justice before they hurt us again.

In this time of war, the President relies on the Secretary of Defense to
provide military advice and direct our nation's Armed Forces as they engage
our enemies across the world. The Secretary of Defense must be a man of
vision who can see threats still over the horizon, and prepare our nation
to meet them. Bob Gates is the right man to meet both of these critical
challenges.

Bob is one of our nation's most accomplished public servants. He joined the
CIA in 1966, and has nearly 27 years of national security experience,
serving six Presidents of both political parties. He spent nearly nine
years serving on the National Security Council staff. And at the CIA, he
rose from an entry-level employee to become the Director of the Central
Intelligence. And his experience has prepared him well for this new
assignment.

Bob understands the challenges we face in Afghanistan. As President
Reagan's Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, he helped lead America's
efforts to drive Soviet forces from Afghanistan. Success in these efforts
weakened the Soviet regime and helped hasten freedom's victory in the Cold
War.

Bob understands the challenges facing our nation in Iraq. He served as
Deputy National Security Advisor to the first President Bush during
Operation Desert Storm as American troops repelled Iraqi aggression and
drove Saddam Hussein's forces from Kuwait. More recently, he served as a
member of the Iraq Study Group, a distinguished independent panel of
Republicans and Democrats led by former Secretary of State Jim Baker and
former Congressman Lee Hamilton. As part of this commission, he has
traveled to Iraq and met with the country's leaders and our military
commanders on the ground. He'll provide the department with a fresh
perspective and new ideas on how America can achieve our goals in Iraq.

Bob understands how to lead large, complex institutions and transform them
to meet new challenges. As Director of Central Intelligence, following the
collapse of the Soviet Union, he was responsible for leading all the
foreign intelligence agencies of the United States. And he's brought that
same leadership and abilities as his work as President of our nation's
sixth largest university, Texas A_

Bob Gates is a patriot whose love for country was nurtured in the Kansas
community where he was raised. He's worn our nation's uniform. He's a
strategic thinker who was educated at three of America's finest
universities, receiving his bachelor's degree from William _

He's a leader in the business community who served on the boards of several
major corporations. He's a man of integrity, candor and sound judgment. He
knows that the challenge of protecting our country is larger than any
political party, and he has a record of working with leaders of both sides
of the aisle to strengthen our national security. He has my confidence and
my trust, and he will be an outstanding Secretary of Defense.

Bob follows in the footsteps of one of America's most skilled and capable
national security leaders, Donald Rumsfeld. Don is the longest-serving
member of my Cabinet, and next month he will reach another milestone when
he becomes the longest-serving Secretary of Defense in the history of our
nation. I appreciate his willingness to continue serving until his
successor is in place, because in a time of war, our nation cannot be
without a strong and steady hand leading our Department of Defense.

Don has served in times of great consequence for our nation. Few will
forget the image of Don Rumsfeld as he helped rescue workers carry the
victims from the rubble of the Pentagon on September the 11th, 2001. In the
weeks that followed, he directed the effort to plan our nation's military
response to an unprecedented attack on our soil. Under his leadership, U.S.
and coalition forces launched one of the most innovative military campaigns
in the history of modern warfare, driving the Taliban and its al Qaeda
allies from power in a matter of weeks.

In 2003, on my orders, he led the planning and execution of another
historic military campaign, Operation Iraqi Freedom, that drove Saddam
Hussein from power and helped the Iraqi people establish a constitutional
democracy in the heart of the Middle East. History will record that on Don
Rumsfeld's watch, the men and women of our military overthrew two terrorist
regimes, liberated some 50 million people, brought justice to the terrorist
Zarqawi and scores of senior al Qaeda operatives, and helped stop new
terrorist attacks on our people.

America is safer and the world is more secure because of the service and
the leadership of Donald Rumsfeld. As he led the Pentagon in an
unprecedented war, Don never took his eye off another vital responsibility,
preparing America for the threats that await us as this new century
unfolds. He developed a new defense strategy. He established a new Northern
Command to protect the homeland, a new Joint Forces Command to focus on
transformation, a new Strategic Command to defend against long-range
attack, and transformed the U.S. Special Operations Command for the war on
terror.

He led our efforts to create a new NATO Response Force that allows NATO to
deploy rapidly anywhere in the world. He undertook the most sweeping
transformation of America's global force posture since the end of World War
II. He revitalized America's efforts to develop and deploy ballistic
missile defenses, and led a comprehensive review of America's nuclear
forces that has allowed us to undertake dramatic reductions in offensive
nuclear weapons.

Don's work in these areas did not often make the headlines. But the reforms
that he has set in motion are historic, and they will enhance the security
of the American people for decades to come.

Over the past six years, I've relied on Don Rumsfeld's advice and counsel.
I've come to know his character and his integrity. As the Secretary of
Defense, he has been dedicated to his mission, loyal to his President, and
devoted to the courageous men and women of our Armed Forces.

Don once famously said, "There are known knowns; there are known unknowns;
and there are unknown unknowns." Well, Mr. Secretary, here is a known
known: Your service has made America stronger, and made America a safer
nation. You will be missed, and I wish you and Joyce all the best in the
years to come.

Don Rumsfeld is a tough act to follow. That's why I picked a man of Bob
Gates's caliber to succeed him. When confirmed by the Senate, Bob will
bring talent, energy and innovation to the Department of Defense. He'll
work every day to keep the American people safe and to make our nation more
secure. And he'll do a superb job as America's next Secretary of Defense.

Bob, I appreciate you agreeing to serve our nation again, and
congratulations.

DR. GATES: Thank you, sir. Mr. President, thank you for this high honor and
for your confidence. And let me add my thanks to Secretary Rumsfeld for his
service.

I entered public service 40 years ago last August. President Bush will be
the seventh President I have served. I had not anticipated returning to
government service, and have never enjoyed any position more than being
president of Texas A_

If confirmed by the Senate, I will serve with all my heart, and with
gratitude to the President for giving me the opportunity to do so.

SECRETARY RUMSFELD: Bob Gates, my congratulations to you on this
nomination. My very best wishes. Look forward to working with you in the
transition.

Mr. President, thank you for your kind words, and the wholly unexpected
opportunity you provided me to serve in the Department of Defense again
these past years -- six years. It's been quite a time. It recalls to mind
the statement by Winston Churchill, something to the effect that "I have
benefitted greatly from criticism, and at no time have I suffered a lack
thereof." (Laughter.)

The great respect that I have for your leadership, Mr. President, in this
little understood, unfamiliar war, the first war of the 21st century -- it
is not well-known, it was not well-understood, it is complex for people to
comprehend. And I know, with certainty, that over time the contributions
you've made will be recorded by history.

I must say that it's been the highest honor of my life to serve with the
talented men and women of the Department of Defense, the amazing men and
women -- young men and women in uniform. It's a privilege. And their
patriotism, their professionalism, their dedication is truly an
inspiration. They have my respect; they will remain in my prayers always.

Thank you.

END 3:42 P.M. EST

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